Fluid dispensing valve means with check valve

ABSTRACT

An aerosol fluids dispensing valve having a primary valve mechanism adapted to dispense fluids from a container, and gravity responsive valve means cooperable with said first mentioned valve means, and adapted to prevent the flow of fluids from a container in which said first mentioned valve means is located, when the container is disposed in a position such that undesirable dispensation of fluids from the container may occur. This invention relates to an aerosol fluids dispensing valve means, and, more particularly, to an aerosol fluids dispensing valve having a primary valve mechanism and a gravity responsive check valve mechanism operable in series to prevent fluids from being dispensed from a container when the container is in an undesirable position, and when the operator of the dispensing valve of the invention fails to dispose the aerosol container in a proper attitude for efficient dispensation of fluids from the container. The gravity responsive check valve mechanism is carried by a part which operates in a direction which is at least partially vertical to the direction of operation of the check valve so that the check valve will not open during operation of the carrying part.

United States Patent 1 Prussin et al.

4 1 Sept. 4, 1973 FLUID DISPENSING VALVE MEANS WITI-I CHECK VALVE [73] Assignee: Dart Industries Inc., Los Angeles,

Calif.

22 Filed: Feb. 12,1971

21 Appl. No.: 115,064

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 775,079, Nov. 12,

1968, abandoned.

Primary Examiner-Samuel F. Coleman Attorney-Paul R. Wylie, Harold R. Beck, Leigh B. Taylor and Michael L. Dunn 5 7 ABSTRACT An aerosol fluids dispensing valve having a primary valve mechanism adapted to dispense fluids from a container, and gravity responsive valve means cooperable with said first mentioned valve means, and adapted to prevent the flow of fluids from a container in which said first mentioned valve means is located, when the container is disposed in a position such that undesirable dispensation of fluids from the container may occur.

This invention relates to an aerosol fluids dispensing valve means, and, more particularly, to an aerosol fluids dispensing valve having a primary valve mechanism and a gravity responsive check valve mechanism operable in series to prevent fluids from being dispensed from a container when the container is in an undesirable position, and when the operator of the dispensing valve of the invention fails to dispose the aerosol container in a proper attitude for efiicient dispensation of fluids from the container.

The gravity responsive check valve mechanism is carried by a part which operates in a direction which is at least partially vertical to the direction of operation of the check valve so that the check valve will not open during operation of the carrying part.

8 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures mcmmw 4m 3756477 sainzurz I (AWE;

FLUID DISPENSING VALVE MEANS WITH CHECK VALVE CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This case is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 775,079, filed Nov. 12, 1968, now abandoned.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to aerosol fluids dispensers and valves, and, more particularly, to a valve mechanism having a primary fluids dispensing valve adapted to be manually operable for dispensing fluids from an aerosol container; the invention also including a gravity responsive check valve means adapted to prevent dispensation of fluids from an aerosol container when the primary valve is opened and the container is in an undesirable attitude.

The invention may include a manually operable primary valve mechanism adapted to control the dispensation of a plurality of fluids from an aerosol container, and an automatic gravity responsive check valve means in series with the primary valve mechanism; the check valve means having a ball check adapted to respond to gravity and to prevent flow of fluids relative to the primary valve means when the aerosol container, with which the valve mechanism is connected, is in an improper position to perform a desirable fluids dispensing operation relative to the contents of the container.

The invention also includes check valve response to gravity which may be a ball check which is carried by a fluids dispensing nozzle and adapted to shut off flow therethrough, when an aerosol fluids container communicating therewith is in an upright position. Additionally, the invention comprises an aerosol fluids container having a valve actuating and dispensing nozzle, the nozzle being adapted to actuate a valve mechanism disposed to control the dispensation of a plurality of fluids from the interior of the container. The actuating nozzle is provided with a bore communicating directly with a gravity responsive check valve which is adapted to shut off flow through the nozzle when the container is in an undesirable dispensing position even though the nozzle may be operated to actuate the valve mechanism which is primarily adapted to control dispensation of a plurality of fluids from the interior of the container.

The invention more specifically includes a check valve which is responsive to gravity and which'is carried by a toggle, swinging or other type of fluids dispensing nozzle and actuator which operates in a direction which is at least partially vertical to the direction of action of the check valve. It has now been discovered that incorporating a gravity responsive check valve in an aerosol nozzle which acts in a direction which is substantially vertical to the direction of action of the check valve for preventing fluid loss from the aerosol container when the container is in an improper position, is superior to incorporation of the check valve in an actuator or other part which operates in substantially the same direction as the check valve. It has been discovered that when the check valve is incorporated in a part which operates in a direction substantially the same as the direction of operation of the check valve, fluids will escape through the check valve when the container is in an improper position when the actuator is released. It has also been discovered that fluids do not escape through a check valve mounted in a part which operates in a direction which is substantially vertical to the direction of action of the check valve when the container is in an improper position and the actuator is released.

While not wishing to be bound by an particular theory, it is believed that the check valve is jarred away from the valve seat because-of inertia when the check valve is mounted in a part which operates in the same direction as the valve, while the-effects of inertia are reduced when the valve is mounted in a part which is operated in a direction vertical to the direction of operation of the check valve.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel aerosol fluids dispensing valve having a primary valve mechanism adapted to control the dispensation of fluids from an aerosol fluids container, and a gravity responsive valve adapted to prevent dispensation of fluids from an aerosol fluids container when it is in an undesirable disposition or attitude for the dispensation of fluids from the container.

Another object of the invention is to provide an aerosol fluids dispensing valve which may be used in connection with aerosol fluid dispensers to prevent inadvertent loss of pressurizing fluid from an aerosol fluids dispensing container before the container is substantially evacuated with relation to other fluids contained therein.

Another object of, the invention is to provide an aerosol fluids dispensing valve means having a novel gravity responsive check valve mechanism therein adapted to prevent dispensation of aerosol fluids from an aerosol fluids container when the container is in an undesirable attitude, whereby improper use of the valve mechanism of the invention is automatically prevented when the operator activates the valve mechanism in an improper attitude.

Another object of the invention is to provide a gravity responsive check valve in a primary aerosol fluid dispensing valve which will prevent dispensation of aerosol fluids from an aerosol fluids container when the container is in an undesirable attitude and which will not be easily opened by operation of the primary dispensing valve. r

Further objects and advantages of the invention may be apparent from the following specification, appended claims, and accompanying drawings.

' BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an axial sectional view of a fluid dispensing container showing a fluids dispensing valve of the invention in connection therewith;

FIG. 2 is a plan sectional view taken from the line 2-2 of FIG. I; FIG. 3 is an enlarged axial sectional view of the fluids dispensing valve of the invention taken from the line 3-3 of FIG. 1, showing the valve structure of the invention in closed position;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, showing the valve structure of the invention in open position, but showing a gravity responsive check valve mechanism of the invention in closed position;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken from the line 5--5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken from the line 66 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken from the line 77 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary plan sectional view taken from the line 8-8 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the same plane as FIG. 4, but showing valve mechanism of the invention in an inverted and open dispensing position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In accordance with the present invention, an outer hollow container 10 is provided with an enclosure end structure of substantially conventional form.

Supported in the central portion 14 of the enclosure end structure 12 is a valve housing 16 of the invention. Carried by the valve housing 16 is an inner container 18 which is of generally collapsible character. This container 18 may be of thin flexibel plastic material and may collapse in response to pressure of fluid 20 in the outer container 10.

The valve housing 16 and the valve structure of the invention contained therein are shown on a large scale in FIG. 3 of the drawings. The valve housing 16 is preferably constructed of plastic or other suitable material and includes a pair of axially concentric housing parts 22 and 24 which are telescopically connected together at 26. The housing portion 24 is provided with a cylindrical male portion fitted in a hollow cylindrical female portion of the housing part 22. These parts, at the telescopic connection 26, are interlocked by suitable annular ridge and groove structure 27 which is deflectably snapped together so that the housing parts 22 and 24, when assembled, are capable of withstanding substantial axial pressure of a valve operating spring 28 supported in a hollow bore portion 30 of the housing part 24. This spring '28 bears on an annular ridge 32 of a poppet valve member 34, tending to hold an annular valve portion 36 of the poppet valve member 34 against a first side 38 of a flexible valve element 40. This flexible valve element 40 is substantially annular in form and is provided with opposite sides, one of which is engagable by the annular valve portion 36 of the poppet valve 34, and the other of which is engaged by a stationary annular seat portion 42 disposed within the interior of the housing part 22, as will be hereinafter described in greater detail.

A peripheral portion of the flexible valve element 40 is securely clamped between opposed ledges 44 and 46 of the housing'parts 22 and 24, respectively.

The spring 28 being a compression spring tends to force the annular poppet valve portion 36 against one side of the flexible valve element 40 and to thus deflect it, such that the opposite side of the flexible valve element 40 is securely and sealingly engaged with the annular seat 42 of the housing part 22.

The flexible valve element 40 is provided with a central opening 48 which forms a fluid passage, as will be hereinafter described in detail.

The housing part 24 is provided with a hollow passage neck 50, around which an open end portion 52 of the collapsible container 18 is fitted. Thus, the hollow portion 50, together with the bore 30 of the housing part 24, forms a passage means communicating with the same side of the flexible valve element 40 that is engaged by the annular valve portion of the poppet valve 34.

The housing part 22 is provided with an annulus 54 therein which also communicates with a port 56 in the side wall of the housing part 22. The port 56 and the annulus 54 provides communication of fluids in the outer container 10 with a side of the flexible valve element 40 opposite to that communicating with the bore 30 of the housing part 24. Thus, separate fluid passage means communicate with opposite sides of the flexible valve element 40 to conduct separate fluids, one of which flows between the annular valve portion 36 of the poppet valve 34 and the flexible valve element 40; and the other which flows between the seat 42 and the flexible valve element 40.

The fluid which flows from the container 18 through the hollow passage 50, bore 30, and over the annular valve element 36, also flows through the opening 48 in the flexible valve element. The fluids then flow into an outlet area of the housing part 22, this area being generally indicated at 58. A valve actuator 59 is mounted in the area 58 and provided with a sleeve 60 having a plurality of radial guide fins 61 and an enlarged peripheral portion 62 for maintaining axial alignment of the actuator 59 with the flexible valve element 40. A lower stem portion 64 carries the poppet valve member 34, and thus this poppet valve member 34 is maintained in axial alignment with the flexible valve element 40 and seat 42.

As shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings, the fins 61 are radially disposed and spaced apart to permit flow of fluids from the annulus 54 and the bore 30 upwardly into the outlet area 58, wherein the actuator member 59 is provided with openings 66 through which the fluids may flow subsequently to gain access to openings 68 through which the fluids successively flow into a bore 70 of a dispensing nozzle, all as will be hereinafter described in detail. This nozzle is tiltably mounted, as will be hereinafter described. This nozzle 72 is provided with an open end 74 through which fluids may ultimately be dispensed to a use area.

The nozzle 72 is provided with a peripheral portion 76 resiliently and tiltably mounted in a resilient seal member 78 intimately fitted to the periphery 76, but

permitting tiltable deflection, as indicated in FIG. 4 of the drawings.

The normally inner end portion of the nozzle member 72 is provided with spherical cam surface 80 bearing in a recessed cam surface 82 of the valve actuator 59. This recess 82 is provided with an upstanding ledge 84.

This ledge 84 is annular and is adapted to be engaged by a central portion of the spherical cam surface 80, as shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings, and to cause the valve actuator 59, together with the poppet valve 34 to be moved into the position shown in FIG. 4. In this position, the annular valve portion 36 is moved away from the flexibly valve element 40 to permit fluids under pressure, in the bore 30 and the annulus 54, to cause the flexible valve element 40 to seek an intermediate position between the spaced apart annular valve portion 36 and the seat 42. In this manner, the flexible valve element 40 seeks a substantially centered position between the seat 42 and the annular valve portion 36 to allow substantially equal amounts of the respective fluids in the bore 30 and the annulus 54 to flow at opposite sides of the flexible valve element 40. Thus, the invention accomplishes concurrent proportional dispensation or flow of the separate fluids at opposite sides of the flexible valve element 40, this flow then proceeds such that one of the fluids passes through the opening 48, as hereinbefore described, in the flexible valve element 40, and bothfluids then pass into the outlet area 58 in which the actuator 59 is disposed.

It will be appreciated that when the poppet valve member 34 is moved into partially open position or fully opened position, that the flexible valve element, due to fluid pressure on opposite sides thereof, will seek an intermediate position between the seat 42 and the annular valve element 36, regardless of the degree to which the valve is opened, and therefore, the valve will provide for concurrent proportional flow of the separate fluids at opposite sides of the flexible valve element, regardless of the degree of opening of the valve.

It will be appreciated, however, that when the spherical portion 80 of the nozzle member 76, engages the annular edge 84 of the valve actuator 59, that the valve may be forced to a completely open position, and that the ends 86 of the fins 60 may pass down to and in engagement with the flexible valve element 40 to force it away from the seat 42 at a distance equal to approximately one-half of the actuating distance of the poppet valve 34. Thus, rapid or snap action opening operation of the valve may be accomplished to actuate the flexible valve element 40 away from the seat 42, if desired.

The nozzle member 72 is provided with a substantially spherical shoulder structure 88 bearing on the inner side of the flexible seal 78 to provide for tilting and rocking motion of the nozzle 72 relative to the seal 78, and also to provide a bearing to react against pressure of the cam surface 80 relative to the recess 82 and ridge 84 of the valve actuator 59 which is opposed by compressive force of the spring 28, as hereinbefore described.

The flexible seal and retainer gasket 78 is held in the generally cup-shaped central portion of the end structure 14 of the container 10, as hereinbefore described.

In operation, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the pressure fluid 20 in the container may act upon the periphery of the collapsible container 18,

and that the walls of this container 18 may be very thin and readily deflectable, such as to provide for an almost identical pressure differential at opposite sides of the flexible valve element 40, and with respect to separate fluids disposed in the outer container 20, and the inner container 18. Thus, the overall combination of the container and valve structure of the invention provides for concurrent equal dispensation of separate fluids at opposite sides of the flexible valve element 40 due to .the fact that substantially equal pressures are disposed at said opposite sides, and therefore may cause the flexible valve element 40 to seek a substantially accurate intermediate position between the seat 42 and the annular portion 36 of the valve member 34 when the valve member is moved to a partially open position or to a fully open position, as shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings.

The foregoing valve structure is by way of example only in accordance with the present invention. The hereinbefore described valve structure represents a primary valve mechanism which may be used in connection with the invention, however, primary valve mechanism of different configuration may be actuated by the dispensing nozzle 70, if desired, and in accordance with the present invention.

In combination with the hereinbefore described primary valve mechanism, the nozzle carries a gravity responsive check valve having a spherical cam portion 80, as hereinbefore described, and inlet ports 68, as hereinbefore described.

The check valve mechanism 100 is located at the outlet of the primary valve mechanism and is provided with a body portion 102 press fitted and secured into a bore 104 of the nozzle 72 to thus hold the spherical cam portion 80 in juxtaposition relative to the nozzle member 72.

The body 102 is provided with slot portions 106 which extend to the open end of the bore 104 and communicate with the openings 66 to conduct fluids into a check valve chamber 108 of the body 102. The slots 106 communicate with the openings 68 to thereby conduct fluids into the check valve chamber 108, all as shown best in FIGS. 3 and 8 of the drawings. A gravity responsive ball 110 is disposed in the check valve chamber 108 and is adapted to respond to gravity and be thereby seated on a valve seat 112 communicating with an outlet chamber 1 14 in the body 102. Communicating with this chamber 114 are radial ports 116, shown best in FIGS. 5 and 7. These ports 116 extend radially and communicate with slots 118 in opposite sides of the body 102, all as shown best in FIGS. 5 and 7 of the drawings. These slots 118 communicate with a diametrically disposed slot 120 in a gasket 122 held in the end of the bore 104 of the nozzle member 72. Slot 120 communicates directly with the dispensing bore 70 of the nozzle 72.

It will be seen that when the primary valve mecha nism of the invention is upright and actuated to open position by tilting of the nozzle member 72, as shown in FIG. 4, that the ball 110 is seated on the seat 112 and prevents flow of fluids through the ports 116 and outwardly through the slots 118 and slot 120 of the gasket 122 to the bore 70 of the dispensing nozzle 72. Accordingly, when the container 10 is disposed in the upright position, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, tilting of the nozzle 72 and opening of the primary valve mechanism will not allow or cause dispensation of fluid from the containers 10 and 18 and neither opening or closing the primary valve will jar the check valve open because the motion of the actuator inwhich the check valve is mounted is at least partially vertical to the direction of operation of the check valve.

When the container 10 and the valve mechanism of the invention are inverted, as shown in FIG. 9 of the drawings, the ball 110 responds to gravity and moves away from the seat 112 and allows fluids, passing through the primary valve mechanism from the containers 10 and 18, to flow through the slots 106, inward through the ports 68 and into the check valve chamber 108, and then through the port 116 to the slots 118, and outwardly through the slot 120 of the gasket 122, and into the bore 70 to be dispensed from the open end 74 thereof. Accordingly, it will be understood that the ball check valve 110 is cooperative with the check valve body 102 to prevent flow of fluids from the nozzle 72 when the container 10 is in an upright position or an undesirable attitude.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the check valve 110 may be arranged to respond to gravity and prevent inadvertent dispensation of fluids from the container 10 in any'attitude, as desired.

It will be seen that the check valve 110 is in series with the valve element 40, which, primarily controls the flow of fluids from the containers l and 18, as hereinbefore described.

It will be further understood that the check valve 110 in connection with the dispensing nozzle 72 may be utilized in series with valve mechanism other than the primary valve mechanism specifically disclosed herein.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be resorted to within the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In an aerosol fluids dispensing valve mechanism, a primary valve mechanism adapted to control the dispensation of fluids from an aerosol container; and a gravity responsive valve disposed in series with said primary valve mechanism and adapted to prevent the flow of fluid from said container whether said primary valve mechanism is open or closed when said container is in the conventional normal upright position, said gravity responsive valve being incorporated into a part which operates in a direction which is substantially vertical to the direction of operation of said gravity responsive valve.

2. The invention, as defined in claim 1, wherein: said first mentioned valve mechanism is adapted to control the flow of a plurality of fluids from an aerosol container means communicating therewith.

3. The invention, as defined'in claim 1, wherein: a fluids dispensing nozzle is provided to operate said primary valve mechanism; said gravity responsive valve is carried by said fluid dispensing nozzle and said fluid dispensing nozzle is disposed for manual operation and actuation of said first primary valve mechanism.

4. The invention, as defined in claim 3, wherein: said gravity responsive valve comprises a ball check valve having a seat through which fluids from said primary valve mechanism must flow to pass outwardly through said nozzle, said ball check valve being gravity responsive to move away from said seat when said container means in connection with said fluids dispensing valve mechanism is tilted into an attitude, such that said ball check responds and moves away from said seat.

5. The invention, as defined in claim 1, wherein: said aerosol container comprises a plurality of containers, one within another, said primary valve mechanism communicating with said plurality of containers, said primary valve mechanism adapted to control the dispensation of separate fluids from said plurality of containers.

6. The invention, as defined in claim 5, wherein: a manually operable nozzle means is disposed and adapted to operate said first primary valve mechanism; said gravity responsive valve carried by said nozzle means and disposed in series with said primary valve mechanism to prevent flow of fluids from said containers, when said first primary valve mechanism is moved to open position by actuation of said nozzle, and when said container is in an undesirable attitude for dispensing fluids from said containers.

7. The invention, as defined in claim 1, wherein: said aerosol container comprises a plurality of containers one within the other, said first primary valve mechanism communicating with separate fluid sources in said containers, said primary valve mechanism having openings adapted to communicate with fluids, when said containers are in a certain attitude, wherein fluids communicate directly with said primary valve mechanism; a fluids dispensing nozzle manually operable to actuate said primary valve mechanism; said gravity responsive valve carried by said fluid dispensing nozzle and adapted to prevent flow through said nozzle and said primary valve mechanism, when said containers are in an attitude that the fluids therein do not communicate properly with said primary valve mechanism.

8. The invention, as defined in claim 1, wherein: said gravity responsive valve is disposed to control flow from the outlet of primary valve mechanism.

I t t III i 

1. In an aerosol fluids dispensing valve mechanism, a primary valve mechanism adapted to control the dispensation of fluids from an aerosol container; and a gravity responsive valve disposed in series with said primary valve mechanism and adapted to prevent the flow of fluid from said container whether said primary valve mechanism is open or closed when said container is in the conventional normal upright position, said gravity responsive valve being incorporated into a part which operates in a direction which is substantially vertical to the direction of operation of said gravity responsive valve.
 2. The invention, as defined in claim 1, wherein: said first mentioned valve mechanism is adapted to control the flow of a plurality of fluids from an aerosol container means communicating therewith.
 3. The invention, as defined in claim 1, wherein: a fluids dispensing nozzle is provided to operate said primary valve mechanism; said gravity responsive valve is carried by said fluid dispensing nozzle and said fluid dispensing nozzle is disposed for manual operation and actuation of said first primary valve mechanism.
 4. The invention, as defined in claim 3, wherein: said gravity responsive valve comprises a ball check valve having a seat through which fluids from said primary valve mechanism must flow to pass outwardly through said nozzle, said ball check valve being gravity responsive to move away from said seat when said container means in connection with said fluids dispensinG valve mechanism is tilted into an attitude, such that said ball check responds and moves away from said seat.
 5. The invention, as defined in claim 1, wherein: said aerosol container comprises a plurality of containers, one within another, said primary valve mechanism communicating with said plurality of containers, said primary valve mechanism adapted to control the dispensation of separate fluids from said plurality of containers.
 6. The invention, as defined in claim 5, wherein: a manually operable nozzle means is disposed and adapted to operate said first primary valve mechanism; said gravity responsive valve carried by said nozzle means and disposed in series with said primary valve mechanism to prevent flow of fluids from said containers, when said first primary valve mechanism is moved to open position by actuation of said nozzle, and when said container is in an undesirable attitude for dispensing fluids from said containers.
 7. The invention, as defined in claim 1, wherein: said aerosol container comprises a plurality of containers one within the other, said first primary valve mechanism communicating with separate fluid sources in said containers, said primary valve mechanism having openings adapted to communicate with fluids, when said containers are in a certain attitude, wherein fluids communicate directly with said primary valve mechanism; a fluids dispensing nozzle manually operable to actuate said primary valve mechanism; said gravity responsive valve carried by said fluid dispensing nozzle and adapted to prevent flow through said nozzle and said primary valve mechanism, when said containers are in an attitude that the fluids therein do not communicate properly with said primary valve mechanism.
 8. The invention, as defined in claim 1, wherein: said gravity responsive valve is disposed to control flow from the outlet of primary valve mechanism. 